MINSK, 28 May (BelTA) – Belarus has been elected to the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), BelTA learned from the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.
“Belarus has been elected to the Executive Board of the World Health Organization. Belarusian Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich was appointed member of the Executive Board. Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva Yuri Ambrazevich will be his deputy,” the ministry said.
According to Dmitry Pinevich, this is a significant event for the country. Belarus will be a member of the Executive Board for three years. “The elections consisted of several stages and assessed the overall contribution to the public healthcare system. Belarus is the best in its region in terms of adoption of successful practices in healthcare system management,” he noted.
Being on the WHO Executive Board offers certain benefits, for example, faster acquisition of information, Dmitry Pinevich said. Members of the board can also explain their position on specific matters directly and more quickly, which is important as the policy in the field of healthcare system includes a wide range of social and economic issues.
Belarus was on the WHO Executive Board in 1948-1950 and on the Standing Committee of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in 2013-2016.
“WHO's main annual event – the 74th session of the World Health Assembly – is running online. It has brought together 194 countries. The session focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic response and prevention of new emergencies. The agenda of the session also includes antibiotic resistance, biological safety of laboratories, mental health during the pandemic, HIV/AIDS, poliomyelitis, and malaria,” the Healthcare Ministry noted.
The World Health Assembly is the main decision-making body of WHO. It includes all WHO member states.
